Tinder is the dating app taking Aussie by storm. But why is it so popular? Picture: iTunesSource: Supplied

TINDER. It's the dating app of choice for Aussie singles.

It seems as though almost everyone on Australia's dating scene has a funny story to tell about their experience using the app.

Though the company has declined to release the number of accounts created since it launched in September last year, Tinder users have rated each other's profiles 3.5 billion times and have been matched up 35 million times, according to Forbes.

And the app is downloaded more than 1000 times a day in Australia, as of last week, according to Joshua Metz, Tinder's Aussie brand manager.

So what makes this app stand apart from so many other dating apps like Grindr, Blendr and RSVP?

Well, according to Sydney app developer Dan Nolan, "it's one of the most ethical dating apps on the market". It's also really simple to use.

Basically, after signing up to the app, Tinder will show you users nearby that it thinks you may like based on your mutual interests and friends (it uses information from your Facebook account) and lets you anonymously "like" them by swiping right, or reject them by swiping left.

But the app protects its users from humiliation - it won't inform users if their profile has been liked or rejected. And the only time you can begin communicating with the other user is if they have liked you back.

Once a user likes you back then Tinder will make an introduction and let you chat within the app. Mr Nolan told news.com.au that the app actively works to prevent "the creep factor".

"It's a lot more ethical than other services out there, because you don't have to put as much on the line," Mr Nolan said.

Get aquainted with Tinder, the dating app of choice for Aussie singles.

Picture: Tinderfail.comSource: Supplied

"You can't randomly be messaged by strangers. You don't get the same kind of creeps that you do on other services.

"It's a calmer, kinder, gentler dating app".

Karalee Evans, head of social at one of Australia's leading ad agencies, told news.com.au that it cuts down the time that would ordinarily be spent going on a bad date.

"Now you can filter out potential dud dates on your phone while you're waiting to get the bus in the morning," she said.

"You could use that 14 minutes of down time to choose your date for that night, instead of listening to that podcast."

Even for people who really haven't had a lot of luck lining up a date on the service, it seems to encourage perseverance.

Sydney man, Matt, aged 27, told news.com.au that he hadn't had a lot of luck using the service. While his room-mate "gets a match every five seconds", Matt says he has barely made any matches and hasn't successfully lined up a single date.

"I've taken it a little bit easy, I don't tend to get many matches and the matches I do get I'm not really interested in," he said. "I get more luck in the real world than on Tinder."

But surprisingly Matt says the rejection hasn't dissuaded him at all.

"It's the best social media app I've used in a long time," he says. "It's addictive too. I go on there every day and write to a few people, like a bunch of girls' profiles, I like to see what's going on."

However he admitted he may be using his "likes" too liberally.

Picture: Tinderfail.comSource: Supplied

"I'm very nice," he says. "I like to go through and like everyone, to be polite. I should probably be a bit more selective with my likes and actually only like the profiles of people I like."

"Sarah", also from Sydney, said the service required low-time investment.

"I've done internet dating and you agonise over writing profiles, finding the right photo, filling out questionnaires," the 29-year-old said.

"With the Facebook connect part of Tinder, you whack up a few photos from your profile, write a short tag line and you're ready to go.

"The fact that you can see what likes and friends you have in common is also great as it gives you a more bird's-eye view of what the person is into, and lets you sound out who they are through any mutual friends you might have."

However, one user "Gunter" said one of the service's flaws was that it encourages users to be totally fickle.

"I'm not on it anymore," he said. "It got old quick. It was funny at first but I found it became very time consuming and fickle the way you just like or dislike profiles based on their picture."

News.com.au polled a number of Tinder users about their top tips for how not to remain forever alone on the dating app.

1. Have good banter

Be funny and quick with your responses, and try to come up with something original.

Have some good banter on Tinder. It goes a long way. Picture: Tinder LinesSource: Supplied

Matt told news.com.au that he liked to start with a joke or a random fact such as "did you know that they grow square watermelons in Japan? They're easier to stack".

Another user, Alex, a 23-year-old nanny, said one guy introduced himself by asking her what she hated in life. She replied that she hated bandaids because they make her skin itchy.

"It hasn't ever come up again but that conversation was great and I still remember that chat," she said.

Also no group photos. Alex said she didn't want to have to guess which person in the photograph she was talking to.

Oh you have a nice body? How nice for you. Put a shirt on. Picture: Tinderactions.comSource: Supplied

6. No topless photos

So you have a great bod. Good for you. Put a shirt on. Have you no shame?

Don't be that guy. Picture: Tinderlines.comSource: Supplied

7. Don't start off with an explicit message

It's just creepy. If that's how you start out, people assume you're only going to get worse. You're entering pervert territory.

Don't put a photo of you and an ex in your Tinder profile. Picture: How To Lose A Guy In One TinderSource: Supplied

8. Don't put up photos of yourself with someone that users can only assume is your ex

Your past relationships are always going to be a source of contention. Don't rub it in the face of your potential date. That's just rude.

9. Give people a chance

If you think they look like an OK person why not give them a right swipe.

Give love a chance, man.Source: Supplied

You don't have a lot of information to go off, so if there's a little bit of interest, why not give it a go?

10. Use your tagline to your advantage

When you set up your profile, users have the option of entering a tagline - some kind of short, one sentence summary to describe yourself, or to describe what you're looking for. Be funny. Be pithy. Be succinct. And above all don't be this guy:

A witty tagline and profile is great. But maybe don't follow this guy's example.Source: Supplied

Leaving your tagline blank makes people think you're too lazy to put in the effort at the outset. What does that say about you as a potential date?

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Comments on this story

Terribla Posted at 7:21 PM August 06, 2013

I don't want Tinder! Give me Tingle

Steven of adelaide Posted at 5:10 PM August 06, 2013

Seriously, how can you reject someone you havent met before. What a terrible society we are becoming.

annoyed Posted at 4:59 PM August 06, 2013

Sounds like Alex was a stuck up shallow snob. You would earn an instant block ;-)

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